Guwahati, October 17 (H.S.): Ashish Bansal, General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction), conducted a window-trailing inspection from Badarpur through Agartala and Nishchintapur to Sabroom. During the inspection, he reviewed ongoing construction projects, railway tracks, bridges and safety arrangements. He directed the officials concerned to give special attention to safety, quality, timely completion of construction works and proper maintenance of railway assets.

Northeast Frontier Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said on Saturday that the General Manager assessed the progress of various construction works during his inspection on October 14 and held detailed discussions with senior officials.

He said Bansal reviewed the construction status of road overbridges (ROBs) along the Kumarghat–Agartala rail section. These bridges are intended to eliminate level crossings, enhance road safety and facilitate smoother movement for the public. A total of 23 ROBs have been sanctioned under the second revised estimate for the project. Contracts have been awarded for the construction of 12 of these bridges, and work is currently in progress.

The General Manager emphasised the need to commission eight ROBs during the current financial year and complete the railway portions of three additional ROBs. He instructed officials to expedite construction by coordinating closely with the state government and to resolve pending issues, including those related to land acquisition, at the earliest.

According to the CPRO, three ROBs are being constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD), while another is being undertaken by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). Railway officials were instructed to strengthen coordination with these agencies and ensure the prompt resolution of issues concerning railway-related works.

For ROBs for which construction agencies have not yet been selected, Bansal directed officials to explore the use of modern construction technologies, including ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). Such techniques could help reduce land requirements and enable construction work to be completed more efficiently.

Bansal also inspected the Agartala–Akhaura cross-border railway project and reviewed the status of the remaining works at Nishchintapur railway station. He directed officials to complete the pending work at the earliest so that passenger train services could commence soon. Considered an important rail link between India and Bangladesh, the project is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and advance the Central Government’s Act East Policy.

During his inspection of the Agartala–Sabroom rail section, the General Manager reviewed railway infrastructure, safety arrangements and maintenance activities. He instructed officials to ensure the security, reliability and proper upkeep of railway assets.

Bansal also reviewed the progress of the ongoing survey for doubling the Maynarvanda–Agartala railway line. The Final Location Survey (FLS) has been completed, and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted to the Railway Board for approval. Once approved and implemented, the proposed doubling is expected to increase the line’s capacity and help accommodate future growth in rail traffic.

The inspection forms part of Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction)’s efforts to accelerate railway infrastructure projects, strengthen safety and improve operational efficiency. These initiatives are expected to enhance passenger facilities, improve connectivity across the Northeast and contribute to the region’s socio-economic development.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar